Books #SOL

Read more Slice of Life stories at
Two Writing Teachers

I'm reading a whole bunch of books this summer.  It's what I do for fun.

I read picture books and graphic novels to find the "next great book" that I can recommend to my intervention students and classroom teachers.

I read middle grade novels because there's nothing more satisfying than sitting down with an engaging book and being able to finish it across a couple of days.

I really love to read young adult fiction because I will forever remember the crazy fun of my high school brain:  school fun, crushes, drama, and dreams of growing up.

I skim and scan children's nonfiction because I'm curious about our world.  I'm more likely to read about a science topic compared to history.  

Rarely I'll read adult nonfiction or fiction.  I'd rather read kid- or teen-centric text.  There's enough grown-up worries and drama in the world that I hear about via social media and the newspaper.  I use reading as an escape.

I use Goodreads to track my reading, when I finished a book, and what books I want to read.  I struggle to leave reviews because I don't want to give too many details away.  I also end up sounding like the book blurb.  I hope to get better at writing reviews.

What do you like to read?

Summer Plans #SOL

Read more Slice of Life stories at
Two Writing Teachers

This summer I'm trying something new.

I told people that I was open and available for volunteer opportunities.

They took me seriously.

I'm a new member of the Monarch Butterfly program at the local nature center.

Sounds impressive? You betcha!  One two-hour training felt like a graduate-level course.

Next week I'll be helping clients with special needs at a day-long fun fair.

I get to play carnival games with a buddy, then enjoy a karaoke party.  I'm super pumped!

This nearly-empty-nester-teacher who thought she would have LOADS of time to fill this summer...

...was wrong!

Morning daughter, evening daughter #SOL17

Read more Slice of Life stories at
Two Writing Teachers

This summer both of my college-aged daughters are home.  It's been fun (and slightly frustrating) to cook and share meals and annoy them with my constant questions and conversations.

 (Can you tell I miss working with my students?  It's too quiet at home!)

My oldest is an early bird.  She's taking two classes, working on student government projects, and bouncing between two internships.  We share a pot of coffee in the morning as she fine-tunes her Spanish homework and I read two newspapers.  Today she wished she had decided to sit on the beach this summer.  I told her to start practicing, "Sorry, I can't help" but we both like to be involved and helpful.

My youngest would sleep ALLLLL DAAAAYYYY if she could.  She's babysitting and works camp next month for little ones with special needs.  Yesterday she went back to dance classes for the first time in three years.  Today she was on the couch, with legs that "can.not.move."  We spend time together in the evenings watching movies or singing along to music.

It's fun (but still, there's a lot of dishes) to have these two around this summer.  I know in a few years my house will empty (maybe?) and Jeff will have to entertain me.  But for now, I'm grateful for the summer and connecting with my girls.

Prioritizing #SOL15

Read more Slice of Life stories every Tuesday at

Two Writing Teachers

It's summer.  Time to relax, reflect and re-energize.

It's also time to
hop around the house,
starting one project
then another
adding to a list
leaving laundry on the couch to fold later.

It's time to
keep the refrigerator filled with food
and the spinning cabinet filled with snacks
and keep track of one daughter's work and school hours
while encouraging the other daughter
to stay focused on her job search and chores.

It's not hard to find things to do.
I feel like the house needs lots of attention.
But then so do my books
and social media (to get more book ideas).

It all comes down to prioritizing.
It's something I'm working to become better at.
Sure, everything gets done
but maybe not in the order it should.
Everything then becomes a priority.

How do other people figure out
what needs to be done
first?

Circle of Friends

My oldest daughter, Lindsey, had a very interesting end to her senior year of high school.  This spring she played her third season of varsity lacrosse.  The team was meshing beautifully and working well together, but many injuries, illnesses and concussions plagued the team throughout the season.  Excitedly, the girls entered the playoffs.  In the first 17 seconds of the first game, Lindsey got possession of the ball.  She turned and fell.  Pop! The athletic trainer's years of experience led him to believe (correctly) that her ACL and meniscus were torn.

You can only imagine the rush of emotions that followed.  While her leg didn't really hurt (but her knee was very swollen), Lindsey's heart was broken.  In her mind, she had let her team down.

The girls took their grief over Lindsey's injury and turned it into a force.  They played their hearts out.  We spent the evening in the trainer's office, and then we heard the news.  The team had won the game!!!

Lindsey commented later that week that she was awestruck by all the positive texts, tweets and hugs she received from her teammates and friends.  #DoItForLRay was their hashtag.  Lindsey and I talked about how she found out, through a terrible event, how much her friends cared about her.  We decided that people need to hear caring thoughts, especially when things are going right.

The next few weeks went by in a blur: senior picnic, senior breakfast, prom, a trip to the beach, and graduation.  All with a wrapped knee, and a smile on her face, once she decided to make the most of the situation.

Three days ago she had surgery to fix her knee.  The texts, snapachats, and visitors are helping keep her spirits high.  It's not the summer before college that Lindsey imagined, but I think she will look back and treasure the time spent with her friends.

Senior Summer

Read more Slice of Life stories at

Two Writing Teachers

It's summer.

Time for fun, sunshine, travel, reading, relaxing.

It's the summer before senior year.

Time for college visits, questions from family, decisions, job hunting, summer reading.

It's supposed to be a fun, carefree time

but

deadlines and decisions loom.

As the parent, I try to provide advice, but I find myself keeping my thoughts to myself.

I'm providing facts and guiding questions.

I'm not the one choosing a school or a job or when to do my summer assignments.

I don't have to live with the decisions... just the person who has to make them.

It's stressful to watch, but that's my place.  On the sidelines.  Coaching.

She's in the game.

Summer Reading... so far

Read more Slice of Life stories at
Two Writing Teachers

I have been working through a few good books this summer, between cleaning out my daughter's room, washing lots of dishes (now I know why we like to eat out!) and purging the basement.  Here's a few I've enjoyed:

 (book cover photos from goodreads.com)

My sister-in-law shared Summerland with me.  She devours adult fiction and passes them to me (we love Janet Evanovich's quick reads).  I liked this book as it wove together the small town of Nantucket, MA as three families deal with a teen car accident.  The writing floats between the past and present, and reveals so much about the characters.

 The Caster Chronicles series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl caught my eye when the Beautiful Creatures movie trailer came out.  They tend to be a bit long, but the characters and the South Carolina town they inhabit are fun to read about.  The magical categories and boy/girl drama between Lena and Ethan keep me reading this series.  The next book in the series is Beautiful Redemption.  I may save it for winter reading.

 Butter is a morbidly obese high schooler who plays a mean saxophone and secretly pines for a girl in his class.  He's bullied by two guys, especially, and decides he should just eat himself to death.  Butter has some great mentors, but you can feel his desperation.  (Psst - it does have a happy ending, don't worry!)

The Book of Broken Hearts is my second read by Sarah Ockler.  I immensely enjoyed reading about Jude and her family (three intense sisters, hardworking mom, dad with early-onset Alzheimer's).  These characters are so real and dealing with such a raw, terrible disease.  There's great sparks and chemistry between Jude and Emilio.  He's a motorcycle repair kid from a family of heartbreakers who Jude is supposed to avoid.  Be prepared for heartache and tears in this story.  I couldn't put it down.

Finally, I need to go back and reread Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead.  This is my fave middle grade read this summer.  Georges, Mom and Dad downsize to an apartment building in New York.  Georges meets Safer and Candy, two homeschooled kids, who introduce him to the art of spying.  Georges deals with separation from his mom and a few bullies at school.  The ending makes you realize how much you missed while you read this book!  I didn't figure out the clues the author left, so I'm determined to reread and find them.  This would be a great read for those middle graders who crave a little mystery.

Happy summer reading!  I recommend setting up a Goodreads.com account and searching #bookaday on Twitter to find your next great read!

Library Love Fest

My public library is my MOST favorite place in my town, and I've had some of the best moments there this summer.

• I met up with friend Becky, from high school, who thought my public library was the most amazing library she'd ever seen. (Then we went to the most fabulous bakery that's right across the street!)
  
• I introduced Michelle's twins to the incredible Enchanted Forest in our children's section.  They loved "meeting" the Very Hungry Caterpillar and sitting in a little house to read.
  
• My younger teen daughter was excited to pick up TTYL (written by Lauren Myracle in online chat speak) and The Battle of Jericho by Sharon Draper (a fave author).  This was exciting for me, but the cherry on top of the sundae came when we stepped into the magazine section.  She couldn't believe all the different topics she could choose from (Birds! Fashion! Hollywood!)
  
• I joined the adult reading club and already won a nifty bookmark with seeds to plant in the garden.  One more book (we only had to read 8... no problem here!) and I win another prize!
  
• I have become a regular customer of the "book holds" area.  One day I got four emails telling me my holds were in.  I felt like a celebrity!

I wish everyone could have a library, as cool as mine, and within walking distance from their home. 

I wish the library was open 24/7, so anyone could get a book anytime.  

I wonder if the library would ever consider having an overnight, lock-in event.  My friend Becky and I thought (at the very same time) how cool that would be.

Do you love your library?

Slice of Life stories are hosted by
Two Writing Teachers

#Summerthrowdown update

Tonight ends the first round of the #summerthrowdown reading challenge.  Three of my Tweeps (people I follow on Twitter) enjoy challenging each other (and their classrooms) to outread each other on a regular basis.  Then the idea of a summer reading challenge came together, plotting librarians against teachers.  It's been great fun:  reading like crazy, logging our reads on a spreadsheet (we count average number of books read) and giving stats/cheering/pouting on Twitter.

I've got a pile of picture books to read tonight, in addition to a few early chapter books that I found at the library.  My plan is to read until my eyes bug out of my head (those pesky #LeagueOfLibrarians have been ahead for most of the throwdown).  We're counting picture books as 0.25, books 50-150 pages as 0.50 and novels over 150 pages as 1.0.

Care to join the second round of the throwdown?  Check out heisereads.blogspot.com for details on Friday!  Thanks so much to Brian (@brianwyzlic), Jillian (@heisereads), Sherry (@libraryfanatic) and Kathy (@thebrainlair) for a great #summerthrowdown!

Now back to reading!!!

Summer time

Enjoy more Slice of Life stories at
Two Writing Teachers

A song from my daughter's first grade classroom keeps popping in my head...to the tune of the Adams Family theme song...

Days of the week (snap, snap)
Days of the week (snap, snap)

Okay, I can't remember how the rest of it goes, but it names all the days of the week.

Since it's summer vacation, I'm having a terrible time remembering what day it is!  I've dutifully added everything to the calendar, and I'm able to distinguish the weekends from the weekdays, but oh boy, don't ask me what day it is!

I think this is a very good problem!

My husband is traveling for work most of the summer, so that makes me the grown-up in charge (hahahaha!).  My mornings have a routine:

wake up
take girls to summer school
walk with Cindy
come home

Once I'm home, I get completely lost in Twitter, blogs, books, cleaning up the kitchen, laundry, shower, organizing something, decide to organize later, reading, moving papers around, back to the computer, more reading, did I dry my hair?, sending out some emails....

Poof!  It's time to pick up the girls, feed them and shuttle my oldest to sports camp.

I try to do something outside the house in the afternoons, but since last week was SO hot, I ended up repeating lots of my morning activities.

Can someone tell me what day it is?
Nah, don't bother, I'm on summertime!

From *Mary* on Flikr

Keeping busy

Read other Slice of Life stories at
Two Writing Teachers

Whew!  I think I need a vacation from my summer vacation!

I've been a crazy cleaning machine this summer:

1. Open closet.  
2. Purge.  
3. Organize (sort of...)
4. Put some stuff back.  
5. Repeat.

It helps that my youngest, who likes to keep things, is at summer school and poms camp for most of the day.  She came home to a leaner closet the other day.  Too bad my oldest wants to deal with her own stuff, on her own time.  (She is our most organized family member)

I haven't called many friends to get together because I've been too busy trying to dig out my house from the school year.  Of course, the office and the bookshelf haven't been touched.  I think I have selective procrastination!

When will I run out of steam?  I'm not sure.  I wish I could handle some of the things on my husband's honey-do list, but I think he's a much more capable carpenter.  I still have to leave him a few things. (Sorry, Jeff!)

How many weeks of summer left?  I'm sure I won't run out of projects!

Motivation



I spend summer in a bit of chaotic state - no rigid schedule most days.  I do relish the hours to do what I need to do, but more importantly, I can choose what I want to do.  This year, I've agreed to walk with my neighbor Cindy each morning after the kids head off to summer school.  We've walked three days straight, for nearly an hour each time. 
Do our legs hurt?  A little.  Do we count the miles?  Nah. 
Do we talk and laugh WAY too much?  Yes!
I told Cindy the second morning, "What if we run out of things to talk about?"
She replied, "Not possible!"

Chatting makes the exercise easier.  No subject is off limits.  I wonder what some of the neighbors think when they hear snippets of our convos as we walk past their open windows!
Will our walking streak last all summer?  Who will be the first to stay on the couch?  
(Probably me, but we won't judge!)

Stay tuned!

Summer Plans

Since my girls are teenagers, my time commitment as "cruise director" is dwindling.  This leaves me with LOTS of time over the summer to do things that I enjoy (and/or need to do).

Here's my list of summer plans:

• Inspire my teens to read each day - this may have to include bribery or threats ("If you want to keep your pool pass, you'll put text in front of your face!") but I hope to keep it positive!
  
• Ride my bike if I need to run an errand or visit the library.  I got a new bike and a cool bag that connects to the side (fancy!).
  
• Try to limit my trips to the kitchen! (I'm a snacker!)
  
• Read The CAFE book by the Two Sisters, cover to cover, and make some written plans to implement CAFE strategy mini lessons for my 4th and 5th grade small groups this fall.
  
• Participate in the #cyberpd book club hosted by Cathy, Jill and Laura.  I always come away with great knowledge from the book we read (this year:  Opening Minds by Peter Johnston) and our great discussions
  
• Read LOTS of  books for the #bookaday and #summerthrowdown challenges, and post what I read on Goodreads and Twitter, and (hopefully) this blog!!
  
• Organize the paperwork stuffed in the drawer and the pictures in my coffee table...maybe!
  
• Enjoy time with my family and friends, without the stress of heading to work each day!!!!

"I'll Miss You!"

Today I quipped to our kindergarten assistant, "I must be wearing a shirt that says HUG ME!"  I couldn't make it two steps into the hallway, as the kindergarten groups passed by on their way to fine arts and gym, without getting at least 5 hugs.

I signed over 50 yearbooks during our 5th grade softball game, and I heard many times, "I'll miss you this summer."

As one of the first graders left school today, she asked if she could give me a hug.  Usually she's very preoccupied with everyone else, but today she wanted to let me know, "I don't know what I'll do this summer when I can't see you."

Hmmmm......

I only work directly with 25 students during a year.  Of course, I'm pretty talkative and I know many of our 400 students by name.  The students who needed to give and receive hugs weren't any students I work with on a daily basis.

I think it's sinking in for our students that they are leaving our warm, caring environment.  They won't have teachers to talk with.  Some won't see their friends very often (or at all).  A few know they will be at home with their siblings, inside until a parent returns from work.

Sigh.

I'm all about enjoying a lengthy summer vacation (I need to recharge!), but for many of the students at our school, that means a disconnection from people who care about them; a change in their routine; a really quiet stretch of boring days.

My friends tease me about my "seasonal job."  I tell them that it's time we rethink the calendar and find a way to keep kids learning and engaged year-round.  Not everyone has the means or the time to head to the zoo, lay on a beach or dine out during the summer.

I'll miss the students, too.

Car Conversations – SOLC #28

Join the Slice of Life Writing Challenge at
Two Writing Teachers

My teenage daughters and I drove five and a half hours across Illinois and Iowa yesterday.  We’re on a mini road trip during spring break, looking at colleges (for the oldest) and shopping (for the youngest).  During the long hours on the road, we talked about a lot of different things. 

Making and keeping friends, especially when there are boys involved 

Does Justin Bieber listen to his early music and cringe at how young he sounds? 

Different religions and churches

Funny stories about their paternal grandmother who grew up in Iowa

Are your GPA and test scores more important than being a well-rounded student? 

Excitement about their dad’s designs for our basement

Of course, when the conversation lapsed, my youngest took over the iPod and played the role of DJ from the backseat.  We listened to everything from hip hop to pop to classic rock.  The miles go faster when you’re singing along to The Beatles, for sure!

When we’re in the car, we can talk about nearly anything without anyone feeling too uncomfortable.  There’s no eye contact, and the conversation can quickly change. 

Mrs. V was right when she commented on my blog yesterday, “Enjoy the trip with your girls. It sounds like it will be a great bonding experience.”

You have mail!

My colleague, Michelle at Literacy Learning Zone, and I decided to try something new this summer to encourage the students at our elementary school to keep reading.

At the end of the school year, we showed the whole school a Prezi that I made called "Where will we catch you reading?"  I borrowed the idea from Mr. Schu and Shannon Miller of Two Libraries, One Voice.  We asked students to have someone take a photo (or draw a picture) of them reading somewhere interesting this summer.  We're hoping that many students take part in this project, and we plan to post their pictures on a bulletin board in the fall.

We also sent a mailing to our resource students that included an issue of "Summer Reading News" we  authored and a self-addressed, stamped postcard.  Last year I wrote letters to students and invited them to write me back, but I didn't give them a way to do this.  This year, we made blank 4x6 cards into postcards, including our mailing address and a postcard stamp (only 29 cents!).  I figured if I gave the students postcards with a stamp all they had to do was find a mailbox!

We sent out over 60 cards, and so far, 3 students have sent a postcard back. Yippee! :)  It's FUN to get mail!  Now we have to figure out when we'll write to the students again before school starts.  The goal is to remind them to keep reading and to show that we're thinking about them over the summer.  I wonder how the students (and their parents) felt about getting this kind of mailer.  I hope we receive more postcards!

Reading up a Storm

I'm having a GREAT reading summer!  I've been out of school for a week, and I've read 5 chapter books.  Woo hoo!  Every summer, Donalyn Miller (author of The Book Whisperer) challenges people to participate in the "bookaday challenge".  I see this as an incentive to read each day, not as a contest.  When I tweet about the book I'm reading, I use the hashtag #bookaday.  I didn't get stressed when it took me 4 days to read The Hunger Games last week.  The whole idea is to read and share what you're reading.
Here are the books I've finished during my first week of break, in between driving my teens around town:

Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech 
This was a great book to read in an hour.  I read it's prequel, Love That Dog, with my 5th grade group this year.  I'm thinking of sending them a copy of Hate That Cat, and I said as much on Twitter.  To my delight, Sharon Creech (the author!  the FAMOUS author!) responded that she loved my tweet!  I love her books!


The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I didn't think I would like a book about a killing game in a dystopian world.  Boy, was I wrong!  The characters are truly survivors you can relate to, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 




Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

This one is definitely a teen book.  This has been my heaviest read so far, but I still had to read it to the end to figure out what happened to Vera's best friend, Charlie.  There's some tough subjects (drinking, drugs, stalkers) in this book, but I wouldn't keep my teens from reading such a good story. 

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
This was a great read, especially because the book goes so much deeper into Mia's character than the movie (which I saw first).  I love that her father is in the book, and he's completely stuffy and royal.  Mia's Grandmere is a royal pain!  I plan to read more of the books in the series.

Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park
Here's the most refreshing book I've read this week.  Park writes a middle-grade novel about two friends, Julia and Patrick, who live in Plainfield, IL and participate in a club like 4-H.  Their project is to raise silkworms, but they have to find a mulberry tree.  The author takes a few pages in between each chapter to have a conversation with Julia about the book.  I really enjoyed these pages, and the whole story.

Now, it's back to the books!  I LOVE summer reading!

They're gone for the summer...

I felt a sense of loss at 12:00 noon on Friday.  I stood at the side of the hallway, watching all of our students leave the building on the last day of school.  I gave high-fives, hugs and pats on the back.
<sigh>

I feel like I didn't even get to half of what I wanted to read and learn with them. 

I'm happy that my students now get to spend more time with their families and friends.  I'm excited that they can enjoy lazy summer days at the pool, at the park, and on the soccer field without the interruption of the school bell.

I worry that some students won't see much outside of their apartment, as they must watch younger siblings or wait inside while their parents work long hours. 

I do plan on keeping in better touch with my students this summer.  I kept our Kid Blog site up, and I've got a pile of envelopes and summer notes to mail them throughout June, July and August.

I'm sure to stay busy this summer, reading books, collecting ideas for next year, and reconnecting with my own family and friends. 

I hope my students have a sweet summer as well, but it sure was tough to see them leave.